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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Shimada
Spend a half‑day on Hōrai Bridge, Oi Shrine and the tea museum; add a night if you want a relaxed stay.
Shimada is a small city in Shizuoka with a historic bridge, a local shrine, a tea‑culture museum and the scenic Ōigawa Railway; it can be explored in a few hours, with optional overnight for a relaxed pace.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Sep (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥7,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea museum entry | ¥300 |
| Local bus ride | ¥210–¥340 |
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bento box | ¥500–¥900 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FSZ · Shizuoka Airport
- bus about 30 min to Shimada
Typical fares
- Shimada → Kanaya (JR)
- ≈ ¥500, 10 min (check)
- Ōigawa Railway steam ride
- ¥1,200–¥2,000 per trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Tōkaidō Main Line stops at Shimada and Kanaya stations; local buses serve the bridge, shrine and museum. Walkable core.
See and do
Known for
- Hōrai Bridge
- Oi Shrine
- Fuji no Kuni Tea Museum
- Ōigawa Railway steam line
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kanaya (Ōigawa Railway) | JR Shimada to Kanaya (10 min), then Ōigawa Railway steam train | ≈30 min total |
| Suwahara Castle ruins | Walk 30 min north from Kanaya Station | ≈45 min total |
Sleep
- Shimada Station area
- Convenient for JR and local bus connections; good for a single night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Train schedules are limited outside peak hours; check JR timetables.
- Tea museum entry fee ¥300; confirm opening hours before visiting.
Shimada is generally safe; watch for occasional summer heat and keep an eye on train schedules.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shimada yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hōrai Bridge
- Oi Shrine
- Fuji no Kuni Tea Museum
- Ōigawa Railway steam line
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Shimada city official site: www.city.shimada.shizuoka.jp/
- Wikidata – Shimada: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Shimada, revision 4870413 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4870413
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/shimada). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.